Akpan, Rogers Take Home Soccer America Honors

Dec 18, 2009

Pictured: Andre Akpan (left), the Ivy League Player of the
Year, and Brian Rogers, the Ivy League Rookie of the Year.
Photo courtesy: David Silverman Photography

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- Forwards Andre Akpan and Brian
Rogers of the Harvard men's soccer team have been honored by
Soccer America with postseason distinction, the
publication announced Friday. Akpan was tabbed to the 2009
Soccer America MVPs first team, while Rogers earned a spot on the
All-Freshman second team.

Akpan, a senior co-captain from Grand Prairie, Texas, is one of
three finalists for the Missouri Athletic Club's Hermann Trophy,
presented to the nation's top collegiate soccer play. Akpan,
Harvard's first finalist for the Hermann Award, was honored on the
National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) and
College Soccer News All-America first team. He was
also honored on the NSCAA All-Northeast Region first team, as well
as the Top Drawer Soccer National second team, and was an
unanimous choice to the All-Ivy League first team this
fall. Akpan, who garnered Ivy League Rookie of the Year
status in 2006, capped his career as the Ivy League Player of the
Year this season.

Harvard's all-time leading scorer with 127 points, Akpan also ranks
first in program history with 33 assists and completes his career
tied with Chris Ohiri '64 for first among all Crimson players with
47 goals. In 2009, Akpan, a nominee for Soccer News
Net Player of the Year, led Harvard and the Ivy League
with 30 points and 12 goals. He also handed out six assists
and led the Crimson with four game-winning tallies. Akpan was
also honored on the ECAC Division I Men's All-Star Team and garned
Academic All-Ivy League status. He concludes his career as a
four-time All-Ivy League choice and a three-time All-American.

Rogers, the Ivy League Rookie of the Year this season, was also
honored on the NSCAA All-Northeast Region third team for his
stellar effort as a freshman. A native of Bronxville, N.Y.,
Rogers ranked second on the Crimson with 18 points, scoring six
goals and handing out six assists. A second-team All-Ivy
pick, Rogers garnered three nods as the Ivy League Rookie of the
Week this fall and began his career with a six-game scoring streak
(Sept. 4-23).

Akpan, Rogers and the Crimson reached as high as No. 6 in the
national rankings this year, as Harvard finisehd 14-4-1
overall. The Crimson advanced to the third round of the NCAA
tournament for the first time since 1987 and won its second Ivy
League title in four years.